ST. MARYS — The St. Marys Area School Board is coming under fire for its handling of an alleged student-involved sexual assault at the district’s middle school building last May.
District parents sparred with the board in a heated and at times hostile meeting on Monday, accusing members of bias, indifference and a cover-up. The accusations center on a May 1, 2014 incident in which four male students are alleged to have forcibly groped a female classmate after dragging her into the middle school’s band room and shutting the door.
Board members, heavily restricted in how they discuss the incident or resulting administrative action, did not dispel versions of the incident shared Monday, but did argue with characterizations of their response as inappropriate.
“No one is taking responsibility,” said Lorraine Wendel, a friend of the alleged victim’s family. “I don’t think you’ve done anything.”
Board members disagreed, arguing they’ve wrestled extensively with the weight of the situation and decision to expel the four male students allegedly involved.
The four students have since returned to class, prompting outraged parents to break months of silence at Monday’s meeting.
Wendy Thompson, a cafeteria employee at the middle school, said she was shocked to learn of the alleged incident and that she had not been informed of it by her superiors. She took issue with the male students being allowed back into classes and contact with female students.
But while some criticized board decisions on the matter thus far, others asked members to describe the steps being taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“I would like to know what is being done,” Wendel asked. “Any of these girls can be (allegedly) assaulted, dragged into a room by four boys, their mouths covered, the lights turned off and sexually assaulted.”
In response, school resource officer John Lovett said the band room’s door has been removed and that a dedicated school resource officer continues to patrol middle school hallways. At the time of the May 2014 incident, the middle school resource officer was reportedly away at a training session. Overall, Lovett said discipline is down in the district.
He cites a thorough investigation of the alleged incident by the district, adding it was also referred to the St. Marys City Police Department. City officers could not be reached for comment as of late Monday night.
Addressing criticism surrounding re-enrollment of the male students, Lovett said in other cases of expulsion, students have been allowed to re-enroll only after completing therapy or in some cases drug and alcohol treatment.
Board president Bob Luchini said expulsion is not intended as a permanent punishment or solution.
He added that formal hearings were held with each of the male students and said all four were allowed to return to classes only after respective six month expulsion periods had ended, not before. Some questioned the coincidence of summer vacation and whether months of recess should have counted against the expulsion terms.
Meanwhile, details of the case and students involved remain closely guarded, due to their sensitive nature and the exclusive involvement of juveniles.
“All parties have the right to privacy,” said board member Bert Sorg, adding, “there’s not a person here (on this board) who doesn’t take this seriously.”
Some on the board, in demonstrating their concern, said they have children in the district, including daughters at the middle school.
As for district employees, solicitor Rick Brown said employees undergo training and regular reminders about protocol to be followed in certain situations, adding, “this school takes safety very seriously.”
But some parents left Monday’s meeting unsatisfied with the official response and whether enough had been done.
“I’ve seen the torture this girl has gone through,” Wendel said. “You have no idea what that girl has been through.”
